Fortescue to charter 12 new CMB.Tech ammonia-ready vessels

Australian mining giant Fortescue will charter 12 ammonia-ready cargo ships from Belgian maritime group CMB.Tech, with three dual-fuel ammonia-powered vessels set to enter operation this year.

The remaining nine will require conversion to run on ammonia, though no timeline for this or their service entry has been revealed.

The vessels, 210,000 dwt Newcastlemax bulk carriers from CMB’s dry bulk division Bocimar, will be chartered by Fortescue.

According to CMB, the fleet will help stimulate demand for green ammonia and could eliminate around 250,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions annually if fuelled by the molecule.

Alexander Saverys, CEO of CMB, said the deployments will showcase ammonia’s viability as a marine fuel and send a “powerful signal to the market.”

“At a time when there is doubt about the decarbonisation of shipping, our sector can decarbonise at scale,” he added.

It follows the in 2025 to develop an iron ore carrier, as well as numerous rollouts of CMB-developed ammonia-fuelled boats.

In March 2025, the maritime group with Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) to deploy nine further ammonia-powered vessels between 2026 and 2029. It was also involved in the 1,400 TEU set to begin fertiliser deliveries this year.

Ammonia continues to be slated as a key future fuel for shipping. However, while carbon-free, it faces criticisms around its toxicity and NOx emissions, both significant environmental concerns.

It comes as green hydrogen proponents hope the International Maritime Organization (IMO) will be able to secure the votes to pass a global carbon price on shippers, which had been postponed last year after protests by major economies.

The measure, which is widely viewed as tool to unlock demand for green hydrogen-based fuels, had been criticised for its potential to increase prices for shippers and end-users.

A new vote is expected to be held in October.